A Cautionary Tale: The Price of a Sandwich and the Value of Vigilance

While attending a Pride celebration in the heart of the city, my girlfriend and I decided to grab a quick bite. Instead of scouring reviews as we typically would, we chose to take a spontaneous chance at a sandwich establishment named Cafeteria, nestled on Charing Cross Road.

Our lunch venture seemed straightforward enough. My girlfriend ordered what was advertised as a £7.99 sandwich. However, as she prepared to pay, I noticed something peculiar: the employee handling the transaction deliberately angled the card machine away from her view. Despite my attempt to halt the process with a hurried “Wait!” it was too late—her card had already been tapped, and she was overcharged by £5.

When I pointed out the discrepancy, referencing the price clearly displayed on the wall, the response I received was nothing short of astonishing. With what can only be described as audacious confidence, the staff member retorted, “What, you really believe you can get a sandwich for that price in this city?” When I expressed my reliance on the posted price, she brazenly dismissed me as an idiot.

In retrospect, I couldn’t help but be struck by her sheer audacity and capacity to ignore the blatant truth. It was a sobering reminder of the importance of vigilance, even in seemingly mundane transactions.

Reflecting on the experience led me to further investigate this establishment and, unsurprisingly, the negative reviews corroborated our experience. With an average rating of 1.6 stars out of 5 on Google, it appears their questionable practices are not isolated incidents. One unfortunate customer even shelled out a staggering £40 for a mere slice of pizza. In comparison, we considered ourselves somewhat fortunate.

Let this serve as a friendly reminder to always verify the amount on the payment terminal before tapping your card. A moment of caution can save you from these unwelcome surprises.